Lee Carsley has not dominated out utilizing a false 9 once more regardless of admitting it didn’t work tonight as England have been “second greatest” in opposition to Greece at Wembley.
With out the injured Harry Kane, Carsley opted in opposition to a like-for-like substitute within the type of Ollie Watkins or Dominic Solanke and as an alternative utilised Jude Bellingham as a makeshift ahead forward of attacking midfielders Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Anthony Gordon.
It resulted in a disjointed efficiency that noticed England create little as an attacking power – they’d simply two photographs heading in the right direction, together with Bellingham’s late aim that regarded to have given them some extent – whereas additionally they regarded undermanned defensively with Rico Lewis and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s willingness to push into midfield repeatedly seeing John Stones and Levi Colwill uncovered.
Vangelis Pavlidis scored each objectives for Greece, together with the winner deep into stoppage time, because the guests honoured the reminiscence of George Baldock, who died yesterday after drowning in a swimming pool in Athens, with a stirring efficiency and a well-deserved win.
🗣️ “We tried to overload the midfield… It was one thing that we tried for 20 minutes yesterday, it’s one thing we experimented with.”
Lee Carsley on England’s new system#ITVFootball | #NationsLeague | 🎙️ @gabrielclarke05 pic.twitter.com/7C39UZ3dWc
— ITV Soccer (@itvfootball) October 10, 2024
Carsley informed ITV: “We have been second greatest for lots of tonight, it’s disappointing. You will get setbacks and it’s necessary we reply.
“We tried one thing completely different and tried to overload the midfield. We tried it for 20 minutes yesterday, we experimented, and disenchanted it didn’t come off. It’s unrealistic to anticipate an excessive amount of and we should attempt once more. All of the objectives have been from errors, which is disappointing.
“It’s undoubtedly an possibility going ahead. When you may have somebody of Kane’s high quality although it guidelines it out when he’s accessible. However sooner or later you need to have the braveness and skill to attempt issues.
“We tried one thing completely different. It doesn’t change something. My remit is to do the three camps.”
Stones – the onus was on us to ship
Stones wore the captain’s armband for the primary time however was partially guilty for each Greece objectives with some light-weight defending.
The Manchester Metropolis defender stated: “On a private observe, completely gutted. To have a outcome like that with the armband for the primary time.
“We ready like we usually do and it didn’t come off. From the beginning they put us proper underneath strain. They have been very compact.
“We all know the system as gamers and after we are on the market as gamers we’ve got to ship. The onus is on us to ship – and we didn’t.
“A troublesome evening, lots was using on it for me personally and we noticed it as a fantastic alternative to prime the group. We have now to maneuver ahead.”
🗣️ “It was a particular recreation for us due to George and we gave the whole lot for him and his household.” ❤️
Nicely stated, Vangelis Pavlidis 👏#ITVFootball | #NationsLeague | 🎙️ @gabrielclarke05 pic.twitter.com/CFSczZGb7m
— ITV Soccer (@itvfootball) October 10, 2024
Pavlidis – that win was for ‘particular man’ George
Former Sheffield United full-back Baldock gained 12 caps for Greece after making his debut two years in the past. The Greece gamers held up a shirt together with his identify on the again after every aim and once more after the ultimate whistle.
Pavlidis stated: “It was a very big day for us due to George. We’re individuals and it’s a particular evening due to him.
“[We have thought about him] lots since we heard it yesterday. A troublesome second for us as a result of George was a part of the crew. Particular man. We have now to play for him and it doesn’t matter the rating right now. We gave the whole lot for him.”
